Freedom of choice

There is a host of Independence Day concerts and activities to choose from around the country.

By YONI COHEN
Rita 370 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Rita 370
(photo credit: Courtesy)
As with every year, Israel will be celebrating Independence Day with a host of special shows and concerts featuring some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Top acts such as Barry Sakharof, Hadag Nahash and Beit Habubot will be touring around the country, visiting different cities on Wednesday night and Thursday. There will also be a number of activities catered more to families that will take place in museums and forests. Here is a small round-up of events taking place on Wednesday night and Thursday.
Tel Aviv will host a traditional style party on a huge stage in Rabin Square, saluting the Army bands with various clips from over the years.
Performers will include Miri Aloni, Shula Chen, Alon Olearchik, Shem Tov Levi, Shlomo Idov and Ephraim Shamir. The evening will kick off with a fireworks display. The event is free of charge and open to the public.
For something a little edgier, Rishon Lezion will be hosting the annual rock show entitled Rock Atzmaut, which will take place through the night at Rishon’s Ampipark. Performers will include Aviv Gefen, Hadag Nahash, Monica Sex with Efrat Gosh, Barry Sakharof and Mercedes Band. Rock legend Berry Sakharof will be joined by his son Itai for a special performance. Tickets cost NIS 169 and must be purchased in advance. (http://misterticket.co.il/he/show/Rock -Azmaut-2012)
In Ramat Gan, a similar type of concert will take place. It will include Mashina, Hadag Nahash, Epho Hayeled, Omer Adam, Itzick Kala, Mush Ben Ari, Idan Amadi, Mea Harman and Dafna Dekel.
For a more relaxed experience, Netanya will host a range of concerts on Wednesday night to cater to the whole family. Starting at 8:30 p.m. at the Sportek Yehalom, a concert will take place with performances by Kopiko, Danny Sanderson, hassidic group Doucet Nova and various local bands, as well as a fireworks display.
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At 9 p.m. the party will move to Independence Square, where Danny Sanderson, Moshik Afia and various local groups will perform. At the same time, there will be a rock concert at the Winter Pond with Roni Superstar, Barry Sakharov, Hadag Nahash, Beit Habubot and more.
In honor of 110 years since the founding of KKL-JNF, the public is invited to experience some of the country’s finest forests on Wednesday for an all-night experience. From dusk until the next morning, KKL-JNF invites the whole family to join them on a nocturnal hike (in cars and on foot), followed by a sing-along and then a bonfire. At dawn, families are invited to take a short walk to see some panoramic views. NIS 50 per participant; NIS 40 for members.
The number of participants is limited, so advance registration is required: 1-800-350-550. Burma Road in Central Israel, Zippori Forest Forest in the North.
After a busy night partying, take it easy on Thursday morning and join the Noa and Yoni Gan-Or at Jerusalem’s Bible Lands Museum for a morning of songs. Noa (assistant curator at the BLMJ) and Yoni (historian and expert on Israeli music) will sing and discuss the song “Jerusalem of Gold.” There will be a special guided tour about Jerusalem at the time of the First Temple, which will end with a singalong, accompanied by a guitar – lyrics will be provided. Tours start every half hour, between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Museum opening hours: 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. Museum entrance, tour and sing-along are all free.
Also in Jerusalem, the Israel Museum will be open to the public with free admission on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. From 11:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon, Mimi Kogan will lead visitors in dancing, while dancers from Hora Jerusalem will perform original Israeli folk dances in an array of costumes.
For those who still have the energy, Radio 88 FM will host a celebration of independence for the public with some of Israel’s bestloved artists. For the first time, the station will build a compound to host the best bands, including stars of the hit TV show The Voice, Beit Habubot, Alon Olearchik, Shlomo Gronich, Shem Tov Levi, Ephraim Shamir, Amir Dadon, Liran Danino, Dori Ben-Zeev and Nathan Cohen, Daphne Rechter and many more.
Thursday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in Tel Aviv.
To wind down the celebrations, on Thursday night there will be an outdoor performance in Netanya’s Winter Park by legendary singer Rita, who will be hosted by the Netanya Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra. Rita, described by many as one of the best Israeli singers, will join a series of Israeli artists such as Ninet Shlomi Shaban and sing familiar songs accompanied by the orchestra. The free concert begins at 8 p.m.